Rakibuls Smith

Not Loving Monday Mornings?

This article is authored by Amy McCloskey Tobin and originally appeared on YouTern, a community enabling young talent to to become highly employable by connecting them to high-impact internships and mentors – and through contemporary career advice found on their blog, The Savvy Intern. We have partnered with them to bring more content to the Albert’s List blog. You can view the post here.

When you wake up on a weekday morning, are you excited about your work week ahead? Or, like so many working people, do you dread going to the job?

You may be asking yourself: Is this what I’m really meant to do? Is this why I worked so hard in college? Is this all there is?

So how do you get to the point you’re one of those workers who love Monday mornings? Here are some ideas to help you get there…

What Do You Love?

Many people will tell you that they don’t know what they should be doing with their career and that is why they aren’t in a job they love. But that assumes there is only ONE job you will love, and you just haven’t discovered it yet.

What I’d like you to consider is there are probably many jobs that would inspire you, and all you need to do is find one of them.

To that, you must first know yourself — and know what you’re really good at.

What do you do best? What is your number one talent? What is effortless for you to do well? Once you understand that, you look for a job that uses those skills. Or, better yet, begin to use those skills more often in the job you’re doing now. After all, it is possible to transform your job into something you love.

One Reason You’re Not Loving Monday Mornings

Too many of us get stuck in a rut at work because we lose a sense of priority; we spend too much time doing the wrong things — or maybe the things that don’t matter as much.

Truly successful people spend a lot of time doing the RIGHT things instead of working hard at the wrong things.

What are the right things in your job? What are your highest priorities? How are you contributing to the mission of your organization?

Don’t Stay in a Job You Hate

If you are miserable in your job and you KNOW it isn’t what you are meant to do, you must quit. That doesn’t mean leave with no planning and no savings, of course. But you cannot remain at a job that is unfixable.

Too many of us have a fear of leaving — we think that perhaps the job will get better, or feel guilty about not giving it our all. Ultimately, those thoughts are barriers that keep from leaving our comfort zones; from trying something new that might be the job you really love.

Stop Thinking About Money

We often equate success with how much we earn. This mindset — and leaving even the worst job if it means a step-down in pay — makes it difficult to move to a job we would love.

Especially during the early years of your career, make passion and purpose far more important than money.

If you really love what you do you will live a much happier life, even if you have to cut back on some of the perceived luxuries you once enjoyed. When that happens to you, you’ll discover, as many as you have, that there is no luxury greater than loving your work.

This may all sound easier said than done. It may not happen overnight. But don’t be afraid to try something different. Be interesting. Be bold. Stay curious and optimistic.

Rakibul Smith

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